Symptoms

If you have dilated cardiomyopathy, you're likely to have signs and symptoms of heart failure or arrhythmias caused by your condition. Signs and symptoms include:

Fatigue

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) when you're active or lying down

Reduced ability to exercise

Swelling (edema) in your legs, ankles and feet

Swelling of your abdomen (ascites)

When to see a doctor

If you're short of breath or have other symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy, see your doctor. Call 911 or your local emergency number if you feel chest pain that lasts more than a few minutes or have severe difficulty breathing.

If a family member has dilated cardiomyopathy, talk to your doctor about being screened or having family members screened for the condition. Early detection may benefit people with inherited forms of dilated cardiomyopathy who have no apparent signs or symptoms.

Legal Conditions and Terms

Reprint Permissions

A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.